Bands take stage for spring show

April 30, 2012

The spring concert of the Boardman Bands will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 3 in the Boardman Performing Arts Center. The concert will feature the Freshman Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and the BHS Wind Ensemble. Musical selections by the Freshman, Concert, and Symphonic Bands will include: "The A Team," "Pirates of the Carribean," "Freedom," "Crimestoppers," "Volare," and "Metroplex."

Another highlight of the evening will be senior soloist Anthony Colella playing Arthur Pryor's "Blue Bells of Scotland" on the trombone. Anthony auditioned in January for one of two senior soloist positions and earned top honors. He recently won the Robert E. Fleming Concerto Competition and played the same piece with the Packard Band.

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Senior soloist Anthony Colella

Anthony, son of David and Sharon Colella, first started studying the trombone with Mike Niro in fourth grade. Niro saw the talent Anthony had and encouraged and supported Anthony limitlessly on his trombone. Currently, Anthony studies with Dr. Michael Crist with Niro as an important mentor. Anthony also studies percussion with Joe Parlink and music theory with Sam D'Angelo. In the fall, Anthony will pursue a degree in music education at Youngstown State University. He will be the seventh Colella to advance through the Dana School of Music. This is a tradition of which the Colella family is very proud.

Anthony currently band president and head manager of the Boardman Band and is principal chair with the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble 1, Youngstown Symphony Youth Orchestra, OMEA District V Honors Band, and in 2011 OMEA All-State Band. Along with his many musical involvements, Anthony has many other accomplishments. He is currently an active member of the National Honor Society, Student Council, Link Crew, the Morra League in Boardman, Celebrate at St. Charles Church, and plays baseball in the Boardman Community Baseball league. Along with his many activities, Anthony also holds a part-time job at Pet Supplies Plus in Boardman.

The BHS Jazz Program has been in the process of raising funds for a performance trip to New York City to perform at the jazz/supper club Swing 46 and Trump Tower by selling raffle tickets for a brand new iPad 3rd Generation. Raffle tickets will be available before the May 3 Band Concert for $2 each. The winning ticket for the iPad will be drawn before the Wind Ensemble performs that evening.

Donations of $3 for adults and $2 for students will be accepted at the door for the May 3 concert. Senior citizens will be admitted free of charge. Refreshments will be served following the show. The Boardman Bands are under the direction of Thomas M. Ruggieri, Timothy P. Tuite, Steven C. Chambers, and Michael J. Shevock.